The following chart shows the allocation of the holidays between parents. School breaks and release times may be different from school to school and district to district. The school calendar is published on your children's school's website before each school year starts. It is important to know these dates / times as they pertain to your children.
Holiday / Special Event | Details / Times | Even-Numbered Years | Odd-Numbered Years |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend | Starts when school is released on Friday or 3:15 p.m., whichever is applicable and ends when the children are returned to school on Tuesday or at 8:00 a.m., whichever is applicable. | Parent 2 | Parent 1 |
President's Day weekend | Starts when school is released on Friday or 3:15 p.m., whichever is applicable and ends when the children are returned to school on Tuesday or at 8:00 a.m., whichever is applicable. | Parent 1 | Parent 2 |
Easter weekend | Starts when school is released for the holiday weekend and ends at 8:00 a.m. on the day school recommences after the holiday weekend. | Parent 2 | Parent 1 |
Spring Break, if one is designated separately from Easter | Starts when school is released for Spring Break and ends at 8:00 a.m. on the day school begins after the break. If a spring break is not granted by the school, this provision would not apply. Also, if the spring break is combined with Easter, this provision would not apply. | Parent 1 | Parent 2 |
Mother's Day | Starts at 8:00 a.m. on Mother's Day and ends at 8:00 a.m. on Monday; one overnight. | Parent 1 | Parent 1 |
Memorial Day weekend | Starts when school is released on Friday or 3:15 p.m., whichever is applicable, and ends when the children are returned to school on Tuesday or at 8:00 a.m., whichever is applicable. | Parent 2 | Parent 1 |
Juneteenth | Starts at 8:00 a.m. on 6/19 and ends at 8:00 a.m. on 6/20 | Parent 1 | Parent 2 |
Father's Day | Starts at 8:00 a.m. on Father's Day and ends at 8:00 a.m. on Monday; one overnight. | Parent 2 | Parent 2 |
4th of July | Begins July 3 at 5:00 p.m. and ends July 5 at 5:00 p.m. | Parent 1 | Parent 2 |
Labor Day weekend | Starts when school is released on Friday or 3:15 p.m., whichever is applicable, and ends when the children are returned to school on Tuesday or at 8:00 a.m., whichever is applicable. | Parent 1 | Parent 2 |
Native American Day weekend | Starts when school is released on Friday or 3:15 p.m., whichever is applicable, and ends when the children are returned to school on Tuesday or at 8:00 a.m., whichever is applicable. | Parent 2 | Parent 1 |
Halloween | Starts on 10/31 when school releases for the day or 3:15 p.m., whichever is applicable, and concludes on 11/01 when school resumes or at 8:00 a.m., whichever is applicable. | Parent 1 | Parent 2 |
Thanksgiving weekend | Starts when school releases on Wednesday or 3:15 p.m., whichever is applicable, and ends Monday at 8:00 a.m. | Parent 2 | Parent 1 |
Christmas Eve | Starts on 12/23 at 8:00 a.m. and concludes on 12/25 at 8:00 a.m. | Parent 2 | Parent 1 |
Christmas Day | Starts on 12/25 at 8:00 a.m. and concludes on 12/27 at 8:00 a.m. | Parent 1 | Parent 2 |
1st half of winter break | The winter break starts when the day the children are released from school for the break and continues to the morning of the day the children return to school. The 48-hour parenting times for each Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are not included in the division of the winter break. | Parent 1 | Parent 2 |
2nd half of winter break, including New Year's holiday | The winter break starts when the day the children are released from school for the break and continues to the morning of the day the children return to school. The 48-hour parenting times for each Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are not included in the division of the winter break. | Parent 2 | Parent 1 |
Children's Birthdays | Starts 8:00 a.m. on date of birthday - 8:00 a.m. the next day (If the birthday falls on a holiday, the parenting time for the birthday shall take place the day before); parenting time shall be with all of the children not just the one who has the birthday. | Parent 2 | Parent 1 |
Parent 2's Birthday | Starts 8:00 a.m. on date of birthday - 8:00 a.m. the next day (If the birthday falls on a holiday, the parenting time for the birthday shall take place the day before). | Parent 2 | Parent 2 |
Parent 1's Birthday | Starts 8:00 a.m. on date of birthday - 8:00 a.m. the next day (If the birthday falls on a holiday, the parenting time for the birthday shall take place the day before). | Parent 1 | Parent 1 |
SDCL tit. 25, ch. 4A, app TO CHAPTER 25-4A, Guideline 2, 2.4